oment they
met his dazzled eyes. Ben was a big-bodied, soft-hearted, slow-thoughted
lad, about sixteen years of age; bigger already, indeed, and stronger
than the majority of grown-up men. He could handle a rifle like a
veteran marksman, and, in the ways of forest life, could make himself as
completely at home as a young Indian. He was greatly attached to Sprigg,
and although the older by three or four years, considered his little
friend as, in every way, his equal, excepting as regarded size,
marksmanship and woodcraft. In return, Sprigg loved Ben as much as a boy
so humored and spoilt, and, consequently, so wayward and selfish, was
capable of loving anybody not exactly necessary to make Number One all
comfortable and snug. He was perfectly aware of the high esteem in which
his mental parts were held by his big chum and master's every look, word
and act told you over and over that he was exactly of the same opinion,
if not more so. Nor can we ourselves deny, having had frequent occasion
to note the fact, that our hero was a boy of uncommon sprightliness of
mind and liveliness of imagination, while Ben was somewhat heavy and
slow in all his ways, except when all agog in the chase, and then he was
as light and elastic as an Indian bow; as quick and keen as an Indian
arrow. Such being the difference between them, the two cronies chimed as
smoothly together as a pair of well agreeing fiddles, each, in turn,
taking the lead of the other--Ben, when they were roaming the perilous
solitudes of the forest; Sprigg, when they were besporting themselves
within the safe precincts of the fort.

Evening had deepened into night, when, all alone, weary and very sad,
Ben Logan made his way back to the fort. Here, at the gate, being
informed of the marvelous manner in which the quest had terminated, he
hurried on to grandpap's house to see his little friend and learn what
further particulars he might of the mysterious affair. His mother,
hearing that he was coming, hastened to meet him at the door; hastened,
because her son, being intended by nature for a man of huge proportions,
was already provided with the full-grown foot to meet that end.
Consequently, his fashion of traveling over the loose, board floors, we
usually see in backwoods cabins, was of that horse-like kind peculiar to
overgrown boys, and against which quiet old ladies are wont to protest
as more in keeping with barns and bridges than with human dwellings. And
now that sh